Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Salem, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Salem, MA

🙂 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 1.8% cheaper than Salem, MA without rent, and 13.2% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 2.2% more expensive than Salem, MA without rent, and 23.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.31 $23.31

$24.71 $24.71

-5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$98.2 $98.2

$99.1 $99.1

-0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.92 $14.92

$10.83 $10.83

37.77%

Cappuccino

$5.94 $5.94

$5.08 $5.08

16.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.47 $2.47

25.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.15 $2.15

16.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$7.9 $7.9

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.78 $8.78

$7.17 $7.17

22.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.28 $1.28

-5.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.49 $4.49

$4.29 $4.29

4.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$8.66 $8.66

-48.15%

Eggs

$5.3 $5.3

$4.2 $4.2

26.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.48 $13.48

$14.27 $14.27

-5.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.59 $12.59

$14.3 $14.3

-11.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.82 $18.82

$8.64 $8.64

117.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.7 $4.7

$4.59 $4.59

2.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.28 $1.28

34.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.33 $3.33

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$8.7 $8.7

-44.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.36 $4.36

-29.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.35 $2.35

4.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.52 $2.52

-12.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.6 $3.6

-34.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.06 $12.06

$9.71 $9.71

24.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$13.2 $13.2

12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.77 $1.77

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$7.12 $7.12

-64.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.2 $72.2

$55.6 $55.6

29.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.54 $3.54

-14.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.61 $1.61

25.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.53 $27.53

$29.73 $29.73

-7.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.04 $1.04

25.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.5K $31.5K

$30K $30K

4.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.4K $27.4K

$26K $26K

5.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$273 $273

$172 $172

58.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$89.7 $89.7

-23.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79 $79

$83 $83

-4.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.9 $66.9

$43.17 $43.17

55.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.88 $24.88

Cinema Ticket

$16.12 $16.12

$14.95 $14.95

7.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,650 $1,650

$1,316 $1,316

25.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.8K $28.8K

$23.9K $23.9K

20.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 $59.2

$71.2 $71.2

-16.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 $57.9

$57.6 $57.6

0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.8 $95.8

5.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$101 $101

15.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,790 $2,790

$2,384 $2,384

17.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,397 $2,397

$2,002 $2,002

19.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,934 $4,934

$3,806 $3,806

29.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,077 $4,077

$2,818 $2,818

44.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,248 $9,248

$5,387 $5,387

71.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,978 $6,978

$4,917 $4,917

41.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,519 $5,519

$9,632 $9,632

-42.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.51

-1.84%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Diego, CA: November 30, 2025

Last update for Salem, MA: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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